Ride 'Em Cowboy (1942)

49% of users liked it
(361 ratings)

Bud Abbott & Lou Costello invade the wild west in Ride 'Em Cowboy. The boys play Duke and Willoughby, a couple of rodeo peanut vendors who get mixed up in the travails of western novelist Bob Mitchell (Dick Foran). Ostensibly a true Son of the Frontier, Bob has actually never been west of Brooklyn… More Bud Abbott & Lou Costello invade the wild west in Ride 'Em Cowboy. The boys play Duke and Willoughby, a couple of rodeo peanut vendors who get mixed up in the travails of western novelist Bob Mitchell (Dick Foran). Ostensibly a true Son of the Frontier, Bob has actually never been west of Brooklyn in his life. To prove that he's got the "right stuff," Bob heads to a dude ranch, where he tries to curry favor with pretty ranchowner's daughter Anne Shaw (Anne Gwynne). Meanwhile, tenderfeet Duke and Willoughby run afoul of a local Indian tribe, whose chief Jake Rainwater (Douglass Dumbrille) demands that Willoughby marry Jake's porcine daughter (Babe London). The obligatory climactic slapstick chase finds Foran teaming up with authentic westerner Alabam (Johnny Mack Brown) to foil a gang of modern-day crooks, while Duke and Willoughby do their best to elude Jake and his war-whooping braves. Not quite as consistently funny as previous Abbot & Costello efforts, Ride 'Em Cowboy suffers from a bit too much directorial interference-especially during the classic "Crazy House" routine, which is weakened by director Arthur Lubin's attempts to make it more "cinematic." Even so, the film is an enjoyable melange of comedy and music, the latter commodity provided by Dick Foran, the Merry Macs, the Hi-Hatters, the Jivin' Jacks and Jills, and even Ella Fitzgerald! Best musical number: "I'll Remember April", brilliantly sung by Foran and gorgeously photographed by John W. Boyle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 26 min.
Directed By: Arthur Lubin
Genres: Western, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 13, 1942 Wide
On DVD: Oct 15, 1992

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Cast

            Bud Abbott as Duke

            Lou Costello as Willoughby

            Dick Foran as Jimmy Roberts

            Anne Gwynne as Anne Shaw

            Johnny Mack Brown as Alabam

            Judd McMichael as Tom

            Ted McMichael as Dick

            Joe McMichael as Harry

            Mary Lou Cook as Dotty Davis

            Ella Fitzgerald as Ruby

            Samuel S. Hinds as Sam Shaw

            Douglas Dumbrille as Jake Rainwater

            Morris Ankrum as Ace Anderson

            Wade Boteler as Rodeo Manager

            Linda Brent as Sunbeam

            Boyd Davis as Doctor

            Eddie Dunn as 2nd Detective

            James Flavin as Railroad Detective

            Jo Gilbert as Moonbeam

            Tom Hanlon as Announcer

            Russell Hicks
            
            Ralph Peters as 1st Henchman

            Isabel Randolph as Lady

            Sherman Sanders as Square Dance Caller

            James Seay as Ranger Captain

            Chief Yowlachie as Chief Tomahawk

            Harold Daniels as Reporter

            Charles Lane as Martin Manning

            Richard Lane as Peter Conway

            Carmela Cansino as 1st Indian Girl

            Harry Monty as Midget
See full cast

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